Engineering Science and Materials Commons^™

Electromechanics Of An Ocean Current Turbine, Vasileios Tzelepis

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The development of a numeric simulation for predicting the performance of an Ocean Current Energy Conversion System is presented in this thesis along with a control system development using a PID controller for the achievement of specified rotational velocity set-points. In the beginning, this numeric model is implemented in MATLAB/Simulink® and it is used to predict the performance of a three phase squirrel single-cage type induction motor/generator in two different cases. The first case is a small 3 meter rotor diameter, 20 kW ocean current turbine with fixed pitch blades, and the second case a 20 …

Investigation Of A Numerical Algorithm For A Discretized Rubber-Belt Continuously Variable Transmission Dynamic Model And Techniques For The Measurement Of Belt Material Properties., Brian Gene Ballew

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A numerical algorithm for modeling the dynamic response of a rubber-belt Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) belt is recreated. The numerical attributes applied to the algorithm and difficulties with numerical stability are discussed in detail. The degrees of freedom of the system have been expanded to include the dynamics of the engine torque output and vehicle loads such as rolling resistance and aerodynamic drag. This was done to emphasize the use of the model as an analysis tool for simulating CVT/engine/vehicle response. The increased degrees of freedom require the addition of a linear dampening element between belt nodes to dampen resonance …

Spare Parts On Demand Using Additive Manufacturing : A Simulation Model For Cost Evaluation., Stefan Jedeck

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Little is known about the impact of additive manufacturing in the spare part supply chain. A few studies are available, but they focus on specific parts and their applications only. A general model, which can be adapted to different applications, is nonexistent. This dissertation proposes a decision making framework that enables an interested practitioner/manager to decide whether using additive manufacturing to make spare parts on demand is economical when compared to conventional warehousing strategy. The framework consists of two major components: a general discrete event simulation model and a process of designing a wide range of simulation scenarios. The goal …

An Approach To Model Plastic Deformation Of Metallic Plates In Hypervelocity Impact Experiments, Shawoon Kumar Roy

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Space structures are subjected to micro-meteorite impact at extremely high velocities of several kilometers per second. Similarly, design of military equipment requires understanding of material behavior under extremely high pressure and temperature. Study of material behavior under hypervelocity impact (HVI) poses many challenges since few researchers so far have approached this problem. Material models, equations of the state, and fracture mechanics are not well understood under these conditions.

The objective of this research is to present an approach for studying plastic deformation of metallic plates under HVI conditions. A two-stage light gas gun can be used to simulate these conditions …

Experimental Investigation And Thermal Modeling On Electro Discharge Drilling Of Pcd, Farnaz Nourbakhsh

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study presents an experimental investigation and finite element simulation of Electro Discharge Drilling (ED-Drilling) of Polycrystalline Diamond (PCD). PCD has many outstanding properties including uniformly high hardness, high wear resistance and strong corrosion which are the main causes of widely using PCD. While PCD has many advantages and an important role in industrial applications, its high level of hardness and wear resistance cause this material to be difficult to form and machine by using traditional machining methods. EDM as a nontraditional machining process is an effective method among other non-traditional methods for PCDs due to its low cost and …

Process Development For Compression Molding Of Hybrid Continuous And Chopped Carbon Fiber Prepreg For Production Of Functionally Graded Composite Structures, Corinne Marie Warnock

Master's Theses

Composite materials offer a high strength-to-weight ratio and directional load bearing capabilities. Compression molding of composite materials yields a superior surface finish and good dimensional stability between component lots with faster processing compared to traditional manufacturing methods. This experimental compression molding capability was developed for the ME composites lab using unidirectional carbon fiber prepreg composites. A direct comparison was drawn between autoclave and compression molding methods to validate compression molding as an alternative manufacturing method in that lab. A method of manufacturing chopped fiber from existing unidirectional prepreg materials was developed and evaluated using destructive testing methods. The results from …

The Influence Of Iron On Arctic Thule Migration Patterns, Alina T. Aquino

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Arctic scholars have yet to fully understand the reasons behind the migration of Thule culture from the western to the eastern Arctic. This rapid movement across such a vast area into environmentally diverse regions marks a critical period of cultural change that is usually summarized by two theoretical positions. Ecological theories postulated environmental changes placed selective pressures on traditional food sources that required Thule hunters to follow migrating prey. Theories that focused on material acquisition alternately proposed the Thule followed the trail of meteoric iron eastward into northwestern Greenland.

This research sought to examine the eastward Thule migration from another …

Chemical And Electronic Structure Of Surfaces And Interfaces In Cadmium Telluride Based Photovoltaic Devices, Douglas Arthur Duncan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The surface and interface properties are of the upmost importance in the understanding, optimization, and application for photovoltaic devices. Often the chemical, electronic, and morphological properties of the films are empirically optimized, however when progress slows, a fundamental understanding of these properties can lead to breakthroughs. In this work, surfaces and interfaces of solar cell-relevant films are probed with a repertoire of X-ray analytical and microanalysis techniques including X-ray photoelectron (XPS), X-ray excited Auger electron (XAES), X-ray emission (XES) spectroscopies, and atomic force (AFM) and scanning electron (SEM) microscopies.

Silicon-based devices currently dominate the solar market, which is rather inflexible …

Crystalline Phase Change In Steel Alloys Due To High Speed Impact, Muna Slewa

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The effect of hypervelocity projectile impact on the crystalline grain structure near the target impact location of A36 steel has been studied. A36 steel is a mostly single phase body centered cubic material (BCC). Impact velocities ranged from 3.54 to 6.70 km/sec. Target materials were studied before and after impact to determine if these impact conditions result in a phase change of the A36. Scanning electron microscopy, electron back-scatter diffraction, and x-ray diffraction methods were used to investigate deformation, lattice defects, twinning, and phase transformation. A limited number of impacted targets made from 304L and HY100 steels were also examined. …

Imaging Thermal Conductivity With Nanoscale Resolution Using A Scanning Spin Probe, Abdelghani Laraoui, Halley Aycock-Rizzo, Yang Gao, Xi Lu, Elisa Riedo, Carlos A. Meriles

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

The ability to probe nanoscale heat flow in a material is often limited by lack of spatial resolution. Here, we use a diamond-nanocrystal-hosted nitrogen-vacancy centre attached to the apex of a silicon thermal tip as a local temperature sensor. We apply an electrical current to heat up the tip and rely on the nitrogen vacancy to monitor the thermal changes the tip experiences as it is brought into contact with surfaces of varying thermal conductivity. By combining atomic force and confocal microscopy, we image phantom microstructures with nanoscale resolution, and attain excellent agreement between the thermal conductivity and topographic maps. …

Short Review On Electrochemical Energy Storage, Hong Li, Ying-Chun Lyu

Journal of Electrochemistry

Energy storage is a critical supporting technology in many fields such as energy, information, transportation, and healthcare, aerospace, advanced manufacture, advanced equipment, national security. Electrochemical energy storage technique has been widely applied and is developing continuously. In this article, the energy storage mechanism, technical indicators and technology ready level in electrochemical energy storage are summarized. Mainly based on lithium ion batteries, untraditional electrochemical issues in electrochemical energy storage devices are described from the perspective of fundamental science. These issues deal mainly with thermodynamics, kinetics, size effect, asymmetric system, asymmetric reaction path, surface phenomenon, hybrid ion transportation, and solid state battery. …

Preparations And Properties Of Polybenzimidazole/Polyvinylbenzyl Crosslinked Composite Membranes For High Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells, Jin-Kai Hao, Yong-Yi Jiang, Zhen Wang, Xiao-Jin Li, Zhi-Gang Shao, Bao-Lian Yi

Journal of Electrochemistry

In order to increase the chemical stability of polybenzimidazole (PBl) membrane, a highly stable polymer, poly vinyl. benzyl chloride (PVBC), was chosen as the macromolecular crosslinker, and 1H-1,2,4-triazol was adopted to prepare the crosslinked PBI-based membranes. The influence of the PVBC amount on membrane characteristic was investigated in detail. The results indi. cated that the crosslinked structure of the membrane effectively improved the chemical stability, and at the same time, the mem. brane presented good mechanical property and proton conductivity. The fuel cell performance for the membrane was tested with hy. drogen and oxygen single cell without humidification at 150 …

Review For Applications Of "Lead Carbon" Batteries In Energy Storage System, Yong-Quan Ma, Ke Ke, Da-Ming Gu

Journal of Electrochemistry

Three types of “lead carbon” batteries are introduced by comparing their advantages and disadvantages. Then their applications in energy storage system (ESS), especially in the field of renewable energy power generation, are discussed. The prospects and potential applications of “lead carbon” batteries in EES for electric power supply system are analyzed by combining the state-of-the-art techniques in this field.

Impact Of Water Content On The Performance Of Lifepo4 Based Lithium-Ion Battery, Jun-Ting Niu, Lin Sun, Shu-Wen Kang, Zhen-Wei Zhao, Zi-Feng Ma

Journal of Electrochemistry

Through different dry conditions and measuring by moisture test instrument, cathode pole pieces with different water contents of 0.3‰ ~ 0.7‰ were obtained to prepare lithium-ion batteries. Cycling performance and high rate performance at 1C ~ 5C discharge rates were tested. Moreover, ASR performances of LiFePO4 base lithium-ion batteries after 200 cycles with different water contents were investigated by EIS. The results showed that the cycle performance and rate performance were closely related to the water content of the electrode. When the water content went up to 0.6‰ the cycle stability and rate performance fell. Meanwhile, the internal resistance and …

Sulfonated-Graphene/Nafion Composite Membrane For All Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries, Da-Wei Yang, Yan-Qing Dong, Jing-Min Fan, Ming-Sen Zheng, Quan-Feng Dong

Journal of Electrochemistry

Nafion membrane has been widely used in fuel cells due to its good proton conductivity, chemical and mechanical stabilities. However, the well-developed water channels in Nafion membrane have restricted its application in all vanadium redox flow batteries owing to the high permeation of vanadium ions and the cost. In this work, the water adsorption rate, resistivity and transference number of vanadium ions of sulfonated-graphene/Nafion composite membrane were investigated and compared with those of Nafion membrane in an effort to overcome the abovementioned drawbacks. It was found that the area resistivity and permeation rate of sulfonated-graphene/Nafion composite membrane were significantly reduced …

Research Progress Of Secondary Sodium-Air Batteries, San-Pei Zhang, Zhao-Yin Wen, Jun Jin, Xiang-Wei Wu, Ying-Ying Hu, Mei-Fen Wu

Journal of Electrochemistry

Rechargeable sodium-air batteries have been the focus in the fields of batteries and energy storage recently, owing to their high specific energy density (1600 Wh·kg^-1), an equilibrium discharge potential of 2.3 V and earth-abundant sodium element However, research on sodium-air cells is still in an infant age and presents many scientific issues. Based on recently reported work and our own experience on sodium-based batteries, this review summarizes the research progress related to the critical scientific is sues of secondary sodium-air batteries and the application prospect of sodium-air battery.

Latest Progresses In Vanadium Flow Battery Technologies And Applications, Xiao-Li Wang, Yu Zhang, Hua-Min Zhang

Journal of Electrochemistry

With virtues of high safety, long cycle life, friend environment and state of charge easy monitoring, vanadium flow battery has become an effective technique for large scale energy storage. United States, Japan, Europe and other developed countries are actively promoting the developments of vanadium flow battery technology and related equipments. In this paper, the performance of containerized vanadium flow battery, which was newly developed by Rongke Power (RKP) and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, was introduced. The operation data of 5 MW/10 MWh vanadium flow battery energy storage station was displayed. Finally, it is pointed out that reducing the cost, …

Development Of Proton Conduction Membranes In Application Of Vanadium Flow Battery, Le-Tu Qingge, Wei-Nan Guo, Ping Liu, Bao-Guo Wang

Journal of Electrochemistry

The polymeric hydrophilic/hydrophobic interactions into membrane formation were introduced. A general and straightforward strategy for preparing membranes with nanometer-scale pores was suggested by utilization of hydrophilic/hydrophobic interactions to generate phase separation and removal of polyion aggregates through water immersion. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and sodium allyl sulfonate (SAS) serve as the membrane material and pore-generator, respectively, resulting in chemically stable and oxidation-resistant membranes with various potential applications. Following the same procedure invented to produce the laboratory-scale membranes, the scale-up process to manufacture large-area membranes was completed. The obtained membrane exhibited the conductivity of 3.5×10^-2 S•cm^-1, thickness of 100 …

Characterization Of The Separator With Thermal-Shutdown Layer For Use In Lithium Batteries, Li Bai, Yong-Jian Huai, Xin-Ping Ai, Hai Jia

Journal of Electrochemistry

In this paper, the lithium ion battery coated with the thermal-shutdown functional layer has been introduced. The shutdown temperature of the separator could be decreased by using the melting point of thermal-shutdown functional layer. When the internal battery environment reached a critical temperature, the functional layer melted and coated the anode/separator with a non-conductive barrier, halting Li-ion transport and shutting down the cell permanently. The results showed that the functional layer did not affect the resistance, rate performance and cycle life. It was found the functional layer can significantly improve the safety of the battery when misused.

Effects Of Microstructures Of Active Material On Performance Of Vrla Battery, Lei Jiang, Shou-Zhong Yi

Journal of Electrochemistry

The structure, morphology and content of the as-prepared and the processed samples were characterized by the means of SEM and XRD. The discharge capacities and cycle life performances of the as-prepared and the processed samples were tested by electrochemical measurements with different rates. The results indicated that the 4BS technology which can affect the plate design, deep cycle capability and cycle life is a basic technology for the VRLA batteries. It was also confirmed that the contents and structures of α-PbO₂ and β-PbO₂ formed with different processing conditions can affect the performance of the VRLA batteries, suggesting that …